The new growth and verdant flavors of spring make it the perfect time to explore Chinese teas. China’s wide tea regions and varieties offer diverse options to match the season.
This guide will recommend ideal Chinese teas to try this spring and provide tips on steeping each variety properly.
Benefits of Drinking Chinese Tea in Spring
Chinese tea, renowned worldwide for its breadth and quality, has many benefits that align with the spirit of spring:
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Promotes hydration – Chinese teas supply needed fluids as weather warms.
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High in antioxidants – Green and white teas contain catechins that support health.
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Boosts immunity – The vitamin C in some teas aids the immune system.
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Uplifts mood – Fragrant teas like jasmine lift spirits with their joyful aroma.
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Supports harmony – The tea ritual fosters calm, mindfulness and inner balance.
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Showcases seasonality – Spring teas highlight nature’s refreshing flavors.
With so many advantages, Chinese tea is the perfect beverage to welcome each spring day.
Exceptional Chinese Green Teas for Spring
Chinese green teas shine in springtime, offering grassy, vegetal notes that resonate with the season. iTeaWorld recommends:
Longjing Dragon Well Green Tea
Grown in Hangzhou, the flat needle leaves and mellow chestnut flavor of this pan-fried green make it a spring favorite. Its soothing taste pairs nicely with light meals.
Mao Feng Green Tea
This early spring green tea from Huangshan has a sweet, fresh flavor with hints of fruit and grass. Its fine silvery buds brew an aromatic delicate cup.
Bi Luo Chun Green Tea
From Jiangsu, this premium green features tightly curled leaves that unfurl into an emeralds green liquor releasing floral aromas. Vegetal notes provide a smooth, rich taste.
Taiping Houkui Green Tea
One of Anhui’s famous green teas, its long flat leaves yield a subtle refreshing flavor with melon notes. A great everyday spring green.
Oolong Tea Varieties for Spring Sipping
With floral and fruity notes, Chinese oolong teas make an alluring choice for spring. These are recommended by iTeaWorld:
Dong Ding Oolong
Grown in northern Taiwan, this oolong has a creamy, milky taste with hints of peaches, honey and lilies. It's widely prized for its exceptional fragrance.
Da Hong Pao Oolong
From Wuyi Mountain, this ‘Big Red Robe’ tea has an orchid-like aroma and rich mineral taste, with roasted nutty notes. Multiple steeps reveal its shifting flavors.
Huang Jin Gui Oolong
Also from Wuyi, this golden oolong combines woody and floral tastes for a complex yet balanced profile. Its ripe fruit notes pair exquisitely with desserts.
Tie Guan Yin Oolong
One of China's most famous oolongs, this variety has a deeply aromatic orchid fragrance and a refined taste with a lingering sweet aftertaste.
Chinese White Teas for a Delicate Spring Cup
White tea’s subtlety captures spring’s essence. These Chinese white tea picks from iTeaWorld brew a deliciously smooth cup:
Silver Needle White Tea
Made with unopened buds in Fujian, this premier white tea features downy silver tips that produce a light honey-sweet liquor. Its gentle smoothness embodies the spring spirit.
White Peony Tea
Including both buds and leaves, White Peony offers increased depth and complexity. Its refreshing floral taste complements spring blossoms and fruits.
Shou Mei White Tea
A Fukien specialty, Shou Mei is crafted from leaves and tips with extended withering. The taste is bold, smooth and enduring, with subtle floral notes.
Chinese Jasmine Tea Sampler for a Florally Sip
Jasmine tea elegantly blends spring's two best flavors – fresh green tea and fragrant jasmine. iTeaWorld recommends:
Jasmine Dragon Phoenix Pearls
Tightly rolled green tea leaves scented with jasmine blossoms unfurl into an exquisitely floral and soothing cup. A delightful springtime treat.
Jasmine Milk Tea
Combining jasmine green tea with creamy milk adds a rich, full-bodied dimension. Sweetened or unsweetened both hit the spot on a spring day.
Jasmine Chung Hao Green Tea
Mingling jasmine with Chung Hao green produces a beautifully balanced tangy floral flavor. Its light astringency pairs well with dim sum.
Jasmine Green Tea with Goji Berries
Goji berries accentuate the jasmine fragrance in this blend while adding vitamin C and a berry-like flavor. A floral fruity spring winner.
Best Practices for Steeping Chinese Tea
Proper techniques are key to bringing out the best in Chinese tea. Follow this steeping guidance from iTeaWorld:
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Heat water to the ideal temperature for each variety – green 175°F, oolong 185°F, white 165-180°F.
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For green tea, steep 1-3 minutes. Oolong can handle multiple shorter steeps.
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Brew jasmine and white teas more delicately, around 2 minutes.
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Use a small teapot and infuser or filters to allow water to circulate freely.
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Pour water gently to prevent bruising delicate tea leaves.
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Always taste tea plain before adding milk, lemon or sweetener.
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Rinse oolongs briefly with hot water first to awaken aromas.
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Store teas in sealed packaging away from air, moisture, light and heat.
Follow your taste preferences when steeping to find each tea's ideal expression.
Stock Up on Seasonal Chinese Teas
This spring, explore China’s treasure trove of green, white, oolong and floral jasmine teas. iTeaWorld makes enjoying premium Chinese teas easy with exceptional seasonal samplers. Their selections help you steep each variety properly to unlock its perfect springtime essence. Savor the fresh fragrances and flavors as you steep your way to a rejuvenating cup.
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